Station-indicator



H. A. SMITH.

STATION INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.2, ma.

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STATION INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED nc.2. I918.

1,326,980. Patented Jan. 6,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. A. SMITH. STATIGN mmcmog. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2, 1918.

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

3 SHEEN-SHEET 3 H 9- 66, an WW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY A. SMITH, OF WEST ALBANY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-FOURTH TO WILLIAM D. SABEY, OF WEST ALBANY, NEW YORK.

STATION-INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

Application filerl December 2, 1918. Serial No. 265,006.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. SMITH,

citizen of the United States, residing at West Albany, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Station- Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved station indicator and has as its primary object to provide a device of this character which may be manually operated for displaying the name of each successive station along a railway route at a time before said station is reached to thus minimize possibility of mistake and confusion of the passengers.

The invention has as a further object to provide an indicator of the above described character employing an indicating ribbon normally under tension of a spring take-up roller and wherein the ribbon may be shifted for bringing the name of a desired station into position for display by simply manually operating a release lever controlling rotation of a ribbon holding roller upon which the ribbon is normally wound.

The invention has as a still further object to provide an improved mechanism for releasing the ribbon holding roller by a step by step movement and wherein the ribbon holding roller will be effectually prevented from getting out of the control of said mechanism.

And the invention has as a still further object to provide a station indicator which may be operated for shifting the indicating ribbon thereof by a lever beneath the inclicator or, if desired, may be similarly operat-ed by a cord connected to a lever projecting above the indicator and extended along the length of the car so that the cord may be grasped from substantially any point in the car.

Other and incidental objects will appear during the course of the detailed description of the invention. In the drawings, wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding ,parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing my improved indicator in position at one end of a conventional type of railway car,

Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the device showing the manner in which the inclicator is detachably mounted in position within a car,

Fig. 3 is an end elevation, one end wall of the casing being removed, this view particularly showing the mounting of the indicating ribbon of the device,

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the indicator with the cover thereof removed,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view particularly showing the mechanism employed for controlling the shifting of the indicating ribbon,

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view showing the control mechanism for the ribbon holding roller in detail,

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the pawl employed for normally maintaining the ribbon holding roller stationary,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view particularly showing the mounting of the winding key for the ribbon holding roller, and

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of the retaining plate for the winding key as well as of said key.

In carrying the invention into efiect I employ a preferably oblong casing 10 which may be formed of wood, sheet metal, or other approved material. The casing is closed by a front cover plate 11 in which is formed an oblong display opening 12 closed by a pane of glass or other transparent material 13. Secured to the end walls of the casing medially thereof are oppositely disposed posts or blocks 14: and 15 respectively to the upper ends of which is secured a transversely extending guide strip 16 lying immediately behind the display opening 12. Secured to the end walls of the casing adjacent the upper side thereof are oppositely disposed brackets 17 and 18 respectively between which is ournaled within the casing a transversely extending spring take-up roller 19. At one end this roller is provided with a trunnion 2O rotatably engaging the bracket 17 while a shaft 21 projects from the opposite end of the roller and, as shown in Fig. 5, is formed with a squared terminal which engages in a suitable slot in the bracket 18 in the well known manner for holding the shaft against rotation. Housed within the adjacent end portion of the roller to surround said shaft is a spring 22 connected at one end to the roller and at its opposite end to the shaft so that rotation of the roller will accordingly act to bring said spring under tension for returning the roller to its normal position. Formed on the roller adjacent its ends are radial guide collars or flanges 23. Secured to the end walls of the casing adjacent its lower side are oppositely- Fitting freely through. a suitable opening in the adjacent end wall of the casing is a winding key 31 engaging said terminal and provided adjacent its outer end with an annular groove 32. A plate 33 is countersunk into the outer face of said end wall and is provided With a slot 34 receiving the key and the side walls of which engage within the groove 32 for holding the key against dis placement. Formed on the roller 26 adjacent opposite ends thereof are radial guide collars or flanges 35 and fixed at one end to said roller between these flanges is an indicating ribbon 36, the opposite end of which is connected to the take-up roller 19 between its guide collars 23. The ribbon 36 may be formed of any approved material and, at spaced points thereon, is provided in succes sive order with the names of the several stations along the route in connection with which the device is intended for use. As will now be clear, the key 31 may be manually operated for winding the ribbon 36 from the roller 19 onto the roller 26 when the spring 22 of the former roller will be brought under tension tending to rewind the ribbon upon this roller. The ribbon is, of course, arranged to extend over the guide strip 16, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, so that when the ribbon is brought to rest with the name of any one of the stations indicated thereon disposed over the guide strip, the name of such station will be easily readable through the display opening 12 of the casing.

Connected to the end walls of the casing above the brackets 24 is a pair of oppositely disposed brackets 37 between which is journaled a transverse shaft 38 provided at its ends with trunnions engaging said brackets. Connected to this shaft at the end thereof adjacent that end of the roller 26 carrying the plate 27, is a tangential arm or plate 39 screwed or otherwise secured at a point intermediate of its ends to the roller which is preferably cut away somewhat at one side to receive the plate. Midway of its ends, the plate is provided with a widened portion or extension 40 and projecting from the upper edge of this extension at the outer edge of the plate is an upwardly and rearwardly curved cam lug 41. Secured at one end to the upper end of the post 14 beneath the ad j acent end of the cross strip 16, is a flat leaf spring 42, the free end of which extends downwardly over the adjacent end of the roller 26 and is bent inwardly toward said roller. Riveted or otherwise secured to the free extremity of this spring is a pawl 43 supported by the spring directly over the cam lug 41 of the plate 39 and held by said spring to freely ride over the adjacent end of the roller 26 for cooperation with a radial lug 44 projecting fronrthe' plate 27 upon said roller. Mounted upon the outer end of the plate 39 at its rear side is a hinge 45, one leaf of which is secured to the plate by a short bolt or other approved fastening device 46. Connected at one end to the free leaf of this hinge is a spring 47, the opposite end of which is engaged with a hook 48 proj ecting inwardly from the adjacent end wall of the casing at the upper edge of the post 14. As will be readily understood, this spring will act to swing the outer end of the plate 39 upwardly and normally hold the cam lug 41 in engagement with the post 14 away from the pawl 43, it being noted in this connection that said post thus provides a stop for the arm cooperating with said lug. Hingedly connected at one end to the inner end of the plate 39 is an operating rod 49, which, as shown-in dotted lines in Fig. 3, extends upwardly through the casing at the rear thereof and at its free end projects through the upper side wall of the casing. Connected to the outer end of the plate 39 at its forward side is a hinge 50, one leaf of which is secured to the plate by the fastening device 46 and riveted or otherwise secured to the free leaf of this hinge is a second operating rod 51, the free end of which is loosely received through a suitable slot in the lower side wall-of the casing. Fixed upon the rod 51 at a point intermediate of its ends is a lateral arm 52 to which is hing edly connected at one end a pawl 53. This pawl is pivoted upon a bolt 54 extending through the adjacent end wall of the casing so that the inner free end of the pawl is thus adapted to cooperate with the lug 44 of the roller 26.

In use, the device is mounted at the front fit over said brackets for thus detachably holding the casing in position. Connected to the operating rod 49 is a pull rope 58 which may be trained over one or more pulleys as shown at 59 and carried longitudinally through the car to the rear end thereof so that the conductor of the car may reach said rope from substantially any point in the car. Connected to the operating lever 51 is a short pull rope 60 depending from the in dicator so that the handle upon said rope may be easily reached.

As will now be clear, in view of the preceding description, the winding key 31, is, when the car reaches the end of its route, operated in the manner previously described for winding the indicating ribbon 36 upon the roller 26 when, as stated, the roller 19 will be brought under tension tending to rewind the ribbon and hold the ribbon taut over the guide strip 16. As the ribbon is wound upon the roller 26 the pawl 43 will ride over the lug eta upon the roller and will, when the roller is released, coact with said lug for holding the roller against rotation and consequently prevent rewinding of the ribbon upon the roller 19. However, as the car progresses along its route and it becomes necessary to shift the indicating ribbon to bring the name of each successive station upon the ribbon into position for display, either the pull rod 58 may be operated for actuating the indicator or the pull rope 60 may be employed for this purpose. In any instance where the device is in use upon a steam railway car and, as is customary, an attendant goes through the car announcing the name of the next station, the pull rope 58 may not be found necessary, since such attendant may easily grasp the rope 60 upon reaching the forward end of the car. When the device is being used upon an electric street railway car, the pull rope 58 is preferably provided and, if desireo, the rope 60 may in such instance be also employed.

Assuming now that the rope 58 is pulled, it, will be seen that the rod as will be lifted to accordingly rock the shaft 38 and swing the inner end of the arm 39 upwardly. Con

sequently, the cam lug 41. will be moved to engage beneath the pawl 4-3 for shifting said pawl out of engagement with the lug 44: upon the roller 26. Therefore, this roller will be released and the take-up roller 19 will immediately act to wind the ribbon thereon for bringing the name of the next successive station into position for display opposite the display opening 12 of the casing. However,

at the time the inner end of'the arm 39 is swung upwardly by the rod 419, the outer end of said arm will be swung downwardly to accordingly also shift the rod 51 clownwardly and rock the pawl 53 upon its pivot so that the inner end of said pawl will be moved into the path of the lug a4. Consequently, upon the release of this lug by the pawl 43, the roller 26 will be permitted to turn only a part of a single revolution when said lug will encounter the pawl 53 for arresting the roller in its turning movement. Then, upon the release of the pull rod 58, the spring 4:7 will act to return the arm 39 to its normal position freeing the pawl 43 to be immediately returned to project into the path of the lug 4a, and retracting the rod 51 for rocking the pawl 53 to release said lug. When thus released, the roller 26 will then be rotated under the tension upon the indicating ribbon 36 to again engage the lug is with the pawl 43.

It will, therefore, be seen that I provide a releasing mechanism in connection with the roller 26 whereby said roller will be freed by a step by step movement and since the pawl. 53 of said mechanism will be swung into the path of the lug 4st upon the roller simultaneously with the release of said lug by the pawl 5L3 while, when the pawl 53 is moved to release the lug, the pawl 43 will be freed to again immediately shift into the path of the lug, possibility of the roller 26 getting out of control of the releasing mechanism is effectually overcome. If a single rotation of the roller 26 is not sufficient to bring the next successive name upon the indicating ribbon into position for display, the pull rod 58 may then be operated for again releas ing the roller, this operation being continued until the name of the desired station is brought into view. Since the operating rod 51 is, as previously described, shifted when the operating rod l9 is actuated, downward pull upon the pull rope 6O acting directly upon the operating rod 51 will, as will be readily understood, cause the actuation of the releasing mechanism in the manner stated. Consequently, the indicator may be operated either by the pull rope 58 or by the pull rope 60.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A device of the character described including companion rollers, an indicating ribbon connected to said rollers, means constantly tending to wind the ribbon from one of the rollers onto the other, and means for controlling rotation of one of said rollers, said latter means including a lug carried by said last mentioned roller, a pawl normally eoacting with the lug for holding such roller against rotation, means for shifting the pawl out of engagement with said lug,

and a second pawl independent of the first pawl and shiftable by said last mentioned means into the path of the lug.

2. A device of the character described including companion rollers, an indicating ribbon connected to said rollers, means constantly tending to wind'the ribbon from one of the rollers onto the other, and means for controlling rotation of one of said rollers,

1 stantly tending to wind the ribbon from one of the rollers onto the other, and means for controlling rotation of one of said rollers, said latter means including a lug carried by said last mentioned roller, a pawl normally coacting with the lug for holding such roller against rotation, an arm mounted for rocking movement and provided with means to coact with the pawl for shifting the pawl out of engagement with said lug, and a second pawl simultaneously shiftable by said arm into the path of the lug.

4. A device of the character described including companion rollers, an indicating ribbon connected to said rollers, means constantly tending to wind the ribbon from one of the rollers onto the other, and means for controlling rotation of one of said rollers, said latter means including a lug carried by said last mentioned roller, a pawl normally coacting with the lug for holding such roller against rotation, a rock shaft, an arm carried by said shaft and provided with means to coact with the pawl for shifting the pawl out of engagement with the lug, and a second pawl simultaneously shiftable by said arm into the path, of the lug.

5. A device of the character described including companion rollers, an indicating ribbon connected to said rollers, means constantly tending to wind the ribbon from one of the rollers onto the other, and means for controlling rotation of one of said rollers, said latter means including a lug carried by said last mentioned roller, a pawl normally coacting with the lug for holding such roller against rotation, a rock arm provided with means to coact with said pawl for shifting the pawl out of engagement with the lug, yieldable means engaging said arm for holding said last mentioned means away from the pawl, and a second pawl connected with the arm and simultaneously shiftable thereby into the path of the lug.

6. A device of the character described including companion rollers, an indicating ribbon connected to said rollers, means constantly tending to wind the ribbon from one of the rollers onto the other, and means for controlling rotation of one of said rollers,

said latter means including a lug carried by 7 nected with the arm for freeing said first mentioned pawl and shifting said last mentioned pawl out of engagement with the lug.

7. A device of the character described including companion rollers, an indicating ribbon connected to said rollers, means constantly tending to wind the ribbon from one of the rollers onto the other, and means for controlling rotation of one of said rollers, said latter means including a lug carried by said last mentioned roller, a pawl normally coacting with the lug for holding such roller against rotation, a rock arm provided with an extension having a cam lug formed therefrom movable into engagement with the pawl for shifting the pawl out of engagement with the lug, and a second pawl simultaneously shiftable by said arm into thepath of the lug.

8. A device of the character described including companion rollers, an indicating ribbon connected to said rollers, means constantly tending to wind the ribbon from one of the rollers onto the other, and means for controlling rotation of one of said rollers, said latter means including a lug carried by said last mentioned roller, a pawl normally coacting with the lug for holding such roller against rotation, a rock arm provided with means to coact with the pawl for shifting the pawl out of engagement with the lug, a second pawl connected with the arm and simultaneously shifta-ble thereby into the path of the lug, and means'connected to said arm for rocking the arm.

9. A device of the character described including companion rollers, an indicating ribbon connected to said rollers, means con stantly tending to wind the ribbon from one of the rollers onto the other, ,and means for controlling rotation of one of said rollers, said latter means including a lug carried by said last mentioned roller, a pawl coacting with the lug for holding such roller against rotation, a rock arm provided with means to coact with the pawl for shifting the pawl out of engagement with the lug, an operating rod connected to said arm for rocking the arm, and a pivoted pawl connected With said rod and simultaneously shiftable thereby into the path of the lug.

10. A device of the character described including a ribbon holding roller, a spring takenp roller, a ribbon carried by said rollers and constantly under the tension of the take-up roller to be Wound thereon, means for Winding the ribbon onto the ribbon holding roller, a lug on the ribbon holding roller a spring carried pawl normally 10 coacting with said lug, means for releasing said pawl, and a pivoted pawl adapted to coact with the lug for stopping the ribbon holding roller and under control of said means.

HENRY A. SMITH. 

